Right from the get-go, Chris Johnson and Falcons volleyball clicked.
In five years at the Seattle Pacific reins, Johnson has built an 86-50 record, won a pair of GNAC championships and qualified three times for the NCAA Division II tournament. His overall record includes a school-best 24-3 in 2006.
In fact, he is not only getting to coach his favorite sport at a high level, he’s getting to do it close to home. Johnson grew up in Bellevue and is a graduate of Interlake High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in art from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., and also played volleyball there for three years. Altogether, Johnson has five years of playing experience at the collegiate club level.
In 2004, Johnson joined the SPU program under then-head coach Kellie Ryan, and took over as head coach the following season. Prior to that, he had gone from player to coaching aide at Westmont, filling that role for three seasons.
Like coaches everywhere, Johnson emphasizes hard work and patience – among other things – to his Seattle Pacific players. Having guided the Falcons to three NCAA appearances, Johnson has them aiming even higher heading into 2010. The GNAC title is up for grabs, and the conference, thanks in part to Johnson's team, gained some added respect in 2009 by earning two of the eight berths in the NCAA West Regionals.
It was in Johnson’s inaugural season at the helm in 2005 that SPU won its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time in four years, and attained its highest national ranking, finishing at No. 18.
The following season, Johnson guided the Falcons through the GNAC schedule undefeated on the way to the 24-3 finish that stands as the school record for fewest losses and highest winning percentage (.889).
Johnson, just the third head coach in the first 24 years of the program, was named the GNAC Co-Coach of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.
To e-mail Coach Johnson: vbchris@spu.edu